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Braves pound Strasburg, beat Nationals

George Henry, Associated Press
12:06 a.m. CDT August 9, 2014

The Braves' Freddie Freeman, right, is congratulated at home plate by Tommy La Stella after Freeman's two-run homer against the Washington Nationals during the second inning Friday.(Photo: Dave Tulis / AP)

ATLANTA – Justin Upton and Freddie Freeman hit two of Atlanta's four homers off Stephen Strasburg, and the Atlanta Braves snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Rain delayed the game by 1 hour, 11 minutes in the middle of the sixth inning.

Atlanta, which nearly blew a 7-0 lead, moved within 3½ games of NL East-leading Washington. The Nationals, who had won two straight and four of six, have lost 21 of 30 against the Braves.

Strasburg (8-10) gave up two more homers than his previous career high. He allowed seven runs, seven hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in five innings, dropping to 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in seven starts at Turner Field.

Ervin Santana (11-6) held the Nationals scoreless until the sixth, when Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI single and Anthony Rendon hit his 15th homer to make it 7-4.

Santana, who allowed four runs, four hits and two walks, struck out four in six innings and won his fourth straight decision.

Wilson Ramos' fifth homer and Cabrera's sacrifice fly cut Atlanta's lead to 7-6 off reliever Anthony Varvaro in the seventh.